Emergency gas tank apparatus

ABSTRACT

Emergency gas tank apparatus is disclosed which includes a solenoid valve for controlling one of a pair of fuel lines extending from an emergency gas tank.

Umted States Patent 1191 [111 3,916,938

Hack Nov. 4, 1975 EMERGENCY GAS TANK APPARATUS 2,481,135 9/1949 Maness, Jr. et al 280/5 A x [76] Inventor: J. Roy Hack, 4363 E lninoisgst 3/1322 glfgram 137/599.1 x

. eiffer Tues, 85714 2 3,699,995 10/1972 Brandt 137/256 [221 Filed= 15, 1974 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [21] Appl. No.: 514,553 1,226,866 6/1959 France 137/568 Primary Examiner-Martin P. Schwadron C(il.2 l37l256fi6ls3glggl9dl) Assistant Examiner Roben J. Miller [58] Field 6: seiii-Zii iififffiiif137555371, 572, 576, Agen" Shields 137/256, 568, 599.1, 599.2, 588, 263, 264, 265, 266, 267; 280/5 222/4245, 133, 129 [57] ABSTRACT Emergency gas tank apparatus is disclosed which in- [56] 1 References Cited cludes a solenoid valve for controlling one of a pair of UNITED STATES PATENTS fuel lines extending from an emergency gas tank.

1,523,370 1/1925 Skaggs 137/205 2' Claims, 2 Drawing Figures ENGINE US. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 3,916,938

TO IGNITION SWITCH EMERGENCY GAS TANKHA'PPA'RATU'S "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIQN 1. Field of the Invention I This invention relatesto gas tanksand, more particularly, to small emergency gas tanks which fill automatically from the normal or main fuel tank supply by means of a' single fuelpump. g i

2. Description of the-Prior Art g,

Nearly every driver of motor vehicles has, at one time or another, in his driving career run out of gas. It is a fortunate individualwho runs out of gas-in the near proximity of a gas station. It is also a fortunate individual who has an emergency can of gas which he can use to enable him to" reach the nearest gas station. It is even a more fortunate individual who has some emergency supply of gas, such as an emergency gas tank, which he may switch to in order to, utilize the gas in the emergencytank directly intothe-normal fuel system of a car.

Auxiliary fuel tanks per seare old in the art. Some of the emergency or reserve fuel tanks of the prior art are filled automatically from the main fuel tank, but most of the prior art auxiliary fuel tanks'requirea separate fuel line system to feed to thecngine, or even to feed directly back into the maintank after the main tank has been run dry..

Similarly, there are a numberof differentvalve arrangements or valve systems which may be used to use an auxiliary supply of gas, including stand pipe valves solenoid valves, and manually axiable valves. Some emergency type fuel supply systems include a separate tank fillable by itself andnotdirectly connected to the main fuel supply system The only connection between thereserve supply and the main supply is by a valve somewhere in thefuel supply line downstream fromthe main fuel tank. 1 i I In some systems, those in which thereserve supply is filled from the main tank, it is necS$ TY ,to havea valve openedbetweenthe main tank and theres'er'v'e tank for the purpose of filling the reserve tankslf a person 'uses the reserve tank, and'forgets to. actuate the valve to allow thereserve tank to be filled, then, of course, the individual has problems when next he must use the reservetank. v v i I i Theapparataus described and claimed herein overcomes the deficiencies and problems'of the prior art by providing a simple valve system to allow the use of the auxiliary or'reserve fuel supply, and provides also that the reserve supply is f lled automatically from the main supply. Moreover, the apparatus described and'clairned herein; is;relativelysimple,f inex pensive and yet providesa sufficient reserve "supplyto enable a user to proceed tothe neixt filling'station to refill his main system. However, it m ustbe noted that the reserve system described herein is justthatymerely a reserve system and cannot o'r should not bev any way eonsidered as a primary sourec offueL Thisis indirect contrast to many of the prior art auxili ary" or reserve" or emergency fuel systems which actually holdseveial g'zrll'ons and areoften treated h'y theuser as part of the main supply rather than as strictly an emergency" system'. While the apparatus herein may he enlargedl'rom that suggested, the purpose is'to restrict the systenrtoonly a minimum amount which can he compactlyinstalled in the engine compartment of contemporary automobiles to he used only as an emergency reserve system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION limit the fuelflow from the emergency tank to only such times as the user specificallydesires to use the fuel supply from the reserve tank. H Among the objects of the presentinvention. arethe following: I I

To provide new and useful reserve fuel system apparatus; v

Toprovide new and useful reserve fuel. system in I which the system is automatically filled from th'e'main fuel supply system;

To provide new and useful auxiliary fuel system .apparatus including a solenoid valve for controlling the flow of fuel from an auxiliaryfuel tank; and

To provide a new and useful emergency fuel system including a tankhaving a conduitfrom the mainfuel tank flowing therethrough:

)BRIEF DESCRIPTION, or THE DRAWING FIG. I is an isometric view of apparatus includedin the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing of the apparatus of FIG. 1 including the electrical circuitry.

DESCRIPTION or riua PREFERRED l EMBODIMENT" FIG. 1 is an isometric view of emergency gas tank apparatus l0 embodying the present invention. The gas tank apparatus 10 includes an emergencygas tank 12, which is shown to be of a generally rectangular configuration, having a length greater than the width and the height, and a heightgreater than the width. Preferably.

-the emergency gastank 12 will hold not more than about a gallon. It is not the purpose. of the present apparatus to provide an auxiliary fuel tank or fuel source. but rather strictly anemerg'encyfuel source which, will enable the automobile user to drive.only to the "nearest" gasoline station. As shown in-FIG. I, the tank 12 includes apair of parallel sides 14, a pair of parallel ends 18 and 20, a top 22, and a bottom (not. shown) substantially parallel to top 22. A fuel line 28 extends from the main fuel tank tothe emergencygas-tank1.2. The ful line 28 is connectedto the fuel tankatthe end 'l8'adjacent the top 22.,A portion of the fuel line 28,

fuel line 29, extends through the tank andis connected to the end 20 adjacentthe top 22. Another portion of the fuel line,.fuel line 30, is connected to fuel line .29 at the end 20 of the tank 12 and it extends outwardly from the tank 20 and'downwardly where it, is connectedina tee" manner to another fuel line 42. Anotherlfuel line. fuel line 40, extends outwardly fromfuel tank IZ-at the lower portion of the end 20 of the fuel tank. Intermediate t'ucl liiie40 and fuel line 42 is a solenoid), The ,solenoid 50 is connected acrossthetwo fuel lines andit ilicludcsa solenoid'actuatcd valvevwhich-is in the norfrom fuel tank 12 through fuel lines 40 and 42.

Fuel line '42 iseonnected to a fuel pump 60. which may he eitheran electricallyoperated fuel pump, or the more typical engine operated fuel pump. Another fuel line, fuel line 44, extends from the fuel pump 60 to the engine.

Fuel tank I2 is a normally enclosed container, not otherwise vented to atmospheric or other pressure. The tank accordingly comprises a thin enclosed tank with a single fuel line feeding into the tank, a line extending through the tank, and a pair of fuel lines extending outwardly from the tank, one of which is connected to the fuel line extending through the tank. The fuel line 29, which extends through the tank, includes a pair of filler holes 32 and 34 spaced apart from each other on the fuel line. The filler holes are simply a pair of small holes or apertures extending through a wall of the fuel line. Fuel flowing from the gas tank of the automobile through fuel lines 28, 29, 30, and 42 to fuel pump 60 will flow outwardly into the fuel tank 12 to the holes 32 and 34 in order to fill the fuel tank 12. Since the fuel tank 12 is an enclosed tank, the air within the tank will flow outwardly from the tank through the holes 32 and 34, also.

Since the holes 32 and 34 are relatively small, a certain amount of time will be required to fill the tank from the main fuel tank. At the same time, there will be sufficient fuel flow through fuel lines 28, 29, 30, and 42 to the fuel pump, and from the fuel pump to the engine to fuel line 44, to enable the engine to operate in a satisfactory manner without any indication of fuel starvation.

If the user of the automobile runs out of gas from his main fuel tank, it will be necessary to actuate a switch in order to open solenoid 50 to enable the fuel to flow from the emergency gas tank 12 through fuel line 40, the solenoid 50, and fuel line 42 to the fuel pump 60. Since all of the fuel has been used from the main fuel tank,there will be no fuel flowing through fuel lines 28, 29, and 30, but rather as the fuel is allowed to flow through fuel line 40 to fuel line 42, air from the main tank will flow into the fuel emergency fuel tank 12 through the holes 32 and 34 to prevent a vacuum from existing within the emergency gas tank 12 as the fuel flows outwardly therefrom. i

A pair of terminals is shown at solenoid 50. In actual fact, and as illustrated in FIG. 2, one terminal would be connected to ground and the other terminal would be connected to a switch operable by the user of the car from within the drivers (passenger) compartment of the vehicle. I

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, which includes the electrical circuitry associated with the emergency gas tank apparatus 10. In FIG. 2 there is shown substantially the same apparatus as in FIG. 1, but in a schematic rendering, and also main fuel tank 4 is shown connected to fuel line 28. The fuel line 28 extends from the main fuel tank 4 to the emergency fuel tank 12, and fuel line 30 is shown extending outwardly from the upper portion of the emergency fuel tank 12. The fuel line 29 is shown in phantom extending within the fuel tank 12 between the fuel lines 28 and 30. Also, the filler holes 32 and 34 are shown in FIG. 2. At the lower portion of the emergencyfuel tank 12 the fuel line 40 is shown extending outwardly to the solenoid 50. From the solenoid 50, fuel line 42 extends to the fuel pump 60 and fuel line '44 extends to the engine from the fuel pump 60. The fuel line 30, extending from the upper portion of the emergency fuel tank 12, is shown connected to the fuel line 42. In normal operation of the car from fuel from the main fuel tank 4, the

fuel flows through fuel lines 28, 29, and 30 to fuel line 42 and to fuel pump 60. However, when an emergency situation occurs, the main gasoline tank is empty, and it is then necessary to use fuel from the emergency fuel tank 12, the solenoid 50 is opened to allow fuel to flow from the emergency tank 12 through fuel line 40 and to fuel line 42. Withinthe passenger compartment, the driver of the automobile has a control panel 70, which includes a light 72 and a switch 74. One side of the switch 74 is connected by a conductor 75 through the ignition of the engine to the engine battery, or some other source of electrical power. The other side of the switch is connected by conductor 76 to the solenoid 50. As previously indicated, in conjunction with FIG. 1, the solenoid is grounded to provide a complete path for the flow of current.

The indicator light 72 is connected to a ground by conductor 78. The light is also connected by a conductor 79 to conductor 76. Accordingly, when the switch 74 is closed, current flows from the source of electrical energy through conductor 75, the switch 74, and conductor 76 to the solenoid 50 to actuate the solenoid to open the valve therein. This allows fuel to flow from the fuel tank 12 through fuel line 40 and through fuel line 42 to the fuel pump 60. At the same time, current also flows from conductor 76 to to conductor 79 to illuminate indicator light 72. In this manner the operator of the vehicle in which the apparatus is installed knows that the fuel is immediately flowing through the open valve of the solenoid from the emergency fuel tank. When the vehicle no longer requires the supply of fuel within the emergency fuel tank 12, the electrical switch 74 is opened, thus turning off the flow of current to the solenoid 50, which allows the solenoid to close the valve therein. The flow of fuel accordingly stops through the fuel line 40. With the flow of current through 74 stopped, the indicator light 72 will also be turned off.

When fuel from the main fuel tank flows through fuel line 28 and through fuel lines 29 and 32 to fuel line 42, some fuel will flow through the filler holes 32 and 34 in the fuel line 29 in order to refill the emergency fuel tank 12. However, the flow of fuel through the filler holeswill not be sufficient to in any way hamper the operation of the vehicle from the main fuel source, fuel tank 4, because there will be sufficient flow through fuel line 29 and through fuel lines 30 and 42 to the fuel pump 60 to enable the car to function in a normal manner regardless of the flow of fuel out of the filler holes 32 and 34. When the emergency fuel tank 12 is full, therewill of course be no flow through the filler holes, and operation of the vehicle will continue.

While the principles of the invention have been made clear in illustrative embodiments, there will beimmediately obvious to those skilled in the art many modifications of structure, arrangements, proportions, the elements, materials, and components used in the practice of the invention, and otherwise, which are particularly adapted for specific environments and operative requirements without departing from these principles. The appended claims are intended toc over and embrace any and all such modifications, within the limits only of the true spirit and scope of the invention. This specification and the appended claims have been prepared in accordance with the applicable patent laws and the rules promulgated under the authority thereof.

What is claimed is:

. Emergency fuel tank apparatus, comprising, in hole means in the first fuel line Within the emergency combination: fuel tank and spaced apart from each other on the fuel line to provide fuel for the emergency fuel tank fuel pump means for providing a flow of fuel from a from the main fuel tank;

main fuel tank; 5 a second fuel line extending from the emergency fuel an emergency fuel tank for holding a quantity of tank to the first fuel line to provide a flow of fuel fuel, including a top portion and a bottom porfrom the emergency fuel tank in response to the tion and side and end portions intermediate the fuel P p means; and

valve means in the second fuel line for controlling the top and bottom portions; flow of fuel in the second fuel line a first fuel line extending from the main fuel tank 2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the valve means into through and out of the emergency tank adja' includes a solenoid actuated valve actuable remotely cent the top portion of the tank and to the fuel f the valve means pump means; 

1. Emergency fuel tank apparatus, comprising, in combination: fuel pump means for providing a flow of fuel from a main fuel tank; an emergency fuel tank for holding a quantity of fuel, including a top portion and a bottom portion and side and end portions intermediate the top and bottom portions; a first fuel line extending from the main fuel tank into, through, and out of the emergency tank adjacent the top portion of the tank and to the fuel pump means; hole means in the first fuel line within the emergency fuel tank and spaced apart from each other on the fuel line to provide fuel for the emergency fuel tank from the main fuel tank; a second fuel line extending from the emergency fuel tank to the first fuel line to provide a flow of fuel from the emergency fuel tank in response to the fuel pump means; and valve means in the second fuel line for controlling the flow of fuel in the second fuel line.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the valve means includes a solenoid actuated valve actuable remotely from the valve means. 